Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-11-03

lG lS recommended tldt tne law governing
the taxation of private banks be carefully<EeS.
vised, SO as to prevent such manifest iniustiG
The incorporated banks Of the State natural
think this is wrong, and they have according
ly been resofting to the courts for relic
against it, and In almost sll cases nth sreceeA
the courts having held that inequalities should
be relieved against. number Of such suits
are now pending in the northern part Of theN
State. In an important sense they involve
the entire tax duplicate, for they have been \
instituted IS test cases, and ii successful the
result will be to lessen the tax valuation Of
our property many millions of dollars aud
throw our whole system into such conflsi0n
as to produce the most embarrassing cAnEs-
Quences.
The Attorney General, with the appS1val
of the Governor and State Auditor, has em-
ployed local counsel to represent the State in
these suits, and everything possible will be
done to successfully defend them. An ap-
preparation should be made TO defray the ex-
penses of such defense, including counsel ices.
1t is obvious that so long as the
Present Valuation of Real Estate Stands,
great injustice will be done to all whose
property is even approximately correctly
valued, and the State will continue unable to
meet the public demands without embarraes-
ment.
It is recommended, therefore, that a -
RETALIATION
be had at once instead OF waiting for the
next decennial valuation in 1890. In order
that this may be done in such a way as to
secure full and fair appraisement, it is
recommended that there be constituted a
STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION,
consisting of eight members, not more than
four of whom shall be of the same political
party, to be appointed by some suitable
authority from the electors Of the State, to
hold their Office for fixed term, and whose
duty it shall be to supervise, as well as revise
and equalize the valuations to be made The
number mentioned is thought to be large
enough to enable each of the leading indus
tries of the State to be represented, and at the
same time not too large for efficient action.
1t is also thought that men so selected will
have the interests of the whole State more in
mind, than if they should be elected to repre-
sent some particular district or locality, in
which case experience has shown they are
too apt to act as though their highest duty
was to secure the lowest possible valuation
for their respective constituencies.
1t is further recommended that the duties
disqualification now devolved upon the Cover
nor, Attorney General and State Auditor, as
to bank shares, and upon the Attorney
eral, Treasurer of State, and State Audltor, aS
to railroads, be transferred to and imposed
upon this Board; that there be, iu short, one
and the same State Board, and pne only, lof
the equalization of all classes ofipropeMrty::. q :..
It is further recommended W. IN an cues
having Board Of Tax Comm.asionels, y .,' W
made the duty Of such Boarqto appoln' al
the assessors and appraisers; A . .o,, 49,.
lation r can be- had as is h9ss attempted to
be indicated,
The TAX Duplicate oat Be Increased
SO as to approx Ate our real wealth, and
that valuation can ,be sc equallzeo as 70 Sc
stafa and that thu ratb Of Taxation can be
lessened to the great benefit Of all, while the
State will be afforded goundant revenue.
Respectfully submated,
J.B. FORAKER Governor.